There are certain metaphors found over and over again in the Bible. One of those compares our lives to that of a path or road. Here are just a few:
2 Sam 2:37: “You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way.”
Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
In the New Testament, Paul takes this idea of life being a path and elevates it to a race.
1 Cor 9:24, “Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
Hebrews 12:1 “…and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.”
There also seems to be a dichotomy for this path, the good or righteous way versus the evil or bad way. Here is an example from Proverbs 4 that talks of them both. “12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. 14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.”
I think sometimes Christians take verses about straight and smooth paths and assume that with faith and a relationship with Jesus that suddenly life will be easy and problem-free. No more struggles, bumps, or barriers to everything they desire and no crushing external circumstances. Except scripture says the opposite, John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble.” Matthew 7:14: “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
It seems more consistent with scripture to acknowledge that our faith doesn’t necessarily make the path ahead literally smoother, but instead, our faith makes us more prepared for the path. Trying to visualize this, I wanted to include light, as there are so many references to Christ and scripture as providing light in the darkness. Seeing our forward path is the single most important aspect of walking the way set before us. Once we allow Christ’s light, we see all the things our faith provides to strengthen and enable us to keep moving. Provisions, rest, nourishment, wisdom, tools for obstacles, protection from storms… these are a few things I thought about that my faith provides.
In contrast, is the dark path so obscured in blackness, who’s to know where goodness or threats lurk? All one has is one’s own strength to forge through.
If your path seems rocky, it doesn’t mean you are doing something wrong; let more light in to see what’s already around to help you onward.
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